Ike ate your homework

Concocting excuses to get out of class — or get that due date extended — are an art form unto themselves, an integral part of the college experience.

Food poisoning (I’ve used that one), the untimely death of a grandmother (how many grandmothers do you have?), a computer crash that sizzled a hard drive (that’s really happened).

Well, puzzle no more. Texas A&M University president Elsa Murano has written students a blank check for excused absences — a hurricane.

Today, Murano released a memo to the campus community allowing Ike-related absences to be excused for up to a week. All Murano asks in return is that students fill out a form so that the university can use them as research subjects — I mean, collect information about how the hurricane has affected them.

She writes:

I know that these are trying times for many in the Aggie Family who have been affected by the hurricane. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with you, our fellow Texans and many others who have been impacted by this devastating storm. As Aggies, we will continue to do whatever we can to assist in the recovery process.